Vancouver Island's Golden Summit (Story Coming 2024)
I join Anthony and Liz on a multi-day adventure to summit the tallest peak on Vancouver Island. Longing to explore ensues.
Big Game Hunting in the Era of Climate Change (Story Coming 2024)
An overnight trip along Stetattle Ridge takes on additional importance when the Sourdough fire completely upends my summer.
The Glacier Peak High Route (Story Coming Winter 2024)
Kyle, Anthony, and I travel 80 miles over four days from Cascade Pass to the summit of Glacier Peak.
The Tale of the Flightless Ptarmigan
…This moment (and the hours that will follow) are everything I’ve been waiting for. White Rock Lakes is known (with reason) as one of the most beautiful spots in the Cascades. Located at 6,000’, the lakes are separated by a small rocky ledge from the Agnes Creek Valley. The outlet of the lake cascades over the rocks in a stunning multitiered waterfall which faces the north side of Dome Peak. There, the Dana and Chickamin Glaciers, some of the larger glaciers in the North Cascades, cling to the striped, rocky walls of their cirque. Innumerable waterfalls pour off these peaks into the valley below. It truly is an alpine paradise…
Del Campo-ing under the Northern Lights
…I can’t believe my eyes. It’s there. Above the horizon. Not super bright, but bright enough. Probably my favorite natural phenomena in the world if I got to experience it in its entirety. The aurora is lighting the sky over the Sauk Valley. The colors are just barely visible, but green/white pillars are swirling and twirling and I know the time is now…
Breakfast Bacon and the Amphitheater of a Thousand Avalanches
…It’s only 2 miles and less than a thousand feet to the summit, but I am exhausted. As I begin the final climb it’s hard to remember a time I was more tired. The slope is gentle, but I’m so fatigued I can only climb continuously for about ten or twenty feet before I need to take a break to lean on my poles. I begin to count out my steps. The goal is to reach fifty before stopping. Sometimes that falls to 37 or 26 before I stop for another break. Fortunately the North Cascade views provide some distractions…
The Little Devil of Snow Camping
…My dreams were filled with optimism. After such a wonderful, chill, and easy day hike (well snowshoe), I was ready to replicate it but with more sunset chances. Of course what had snuck out of mind were all the miseries of snow camping. My shoulder angel I guess was on vacation and my little shoulder devil was pumping my thoughts full of the beauty of the winter alpine. What I failed to remember is the winter rule of three…
The North Cascades Ski Sauna
…And then a soft growling rises out of the deafening silence. At first I fail to find its source, but it quickly grows louder and I spot a small Cessna coming straight for me from Glacier Peak. It’s amazing how quickly planes travel when you're up at their level. From first sighting I have thirty second before the plane is passing a thousand feet away. I send my greetings attempting to walk the line between being seen and appearing in desperate need of assistance…
Caught Between a Rock and a High Place
As September approaches, the nights lengthen, and the berries burst, I want to have at least one mother-son overnight adventure. After a bit of internet searching we decide on a full moon overnight to Ptarmigan Ridge. We find way too many flowers, a dangerously gorgeous lake, and get stuck deciding which is more beautiful, Mount Baker or Shuksan.
Night of the Man-Eating Packrat
I went to the mountains to take pictures of Comet NEOWISE. I discovered man-eating packrats instead. These are cute, furry tailed rodents who supposedly just want to fill their homes with warm and shiny things. I don’t know if they’re miniature mountain protectors are just alarm clocks who can’t tell time, but they kept me up all night and lead to one of the most beautiful nights of my life.
Isolation among the snowsaws
There’s something about the approach of winter sunsets that’s a little more unsettling than during the summer. Something about that ball of fire racing towards the frozen ice covered peaks surrounding you like enormous inverted icicles that makes all the worst case possibilities play out through your mind.